Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A Hillbilly Tribute to AC/DC ribute is to date Hayseed Dixie's best selling release (certified as triple-copper - sales exceeding 100,000 - by the Deer Lick Holler Chamber of Commerce.) And it has now been re-mastered with a bonus track and new cover art, and will come out through their new label, Cooking Vinyl USA.

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What would Bill Monroe do? The liner notes would have us believe that these hicks happened upon some AC/DC records, liked what they heard, and learned the songs in tribute to the dead stranger who brought the music of the Young brothers to them. What holds the seemingly cracked concept of bluegrass interpretations of AC/DC's hits together is the utter lack of irony in the singing and playing. By holding true to the spirit of the originals while refashioning them in the high lonesome mode, these fellows deliver a satisfying set of modern hillbilly music. Apparently the members of Hillbilly Dixie are a bit ashamed of this project (their names are not listed in the credits). No need to be embarrassed; while one might be better served by a Flatt and Scruggs record, this enjoyably lightweight release is played and sung with such apparent love of the music that it's hard to grouse about its novelty aspect. Highlights include a heartfelt "You Shook Me All Night Long" and a blistering take on "Have a Drink on Me." --Mike Johnson

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

This is a case where I'd like finer resolution than five stars, say ten, because I want to save the highest rating for recordings that changed my life or utterly floor me with musicianship.That's not to denigrate this expertly wrought, if a bit short, recording of AC/DC classics that is sprightly in spots ("Back in Black") and goes into overdrive where it counts ("Have a Drink on Me"). It's too dang bad the members of Hayseed Dixie feel the need to remain anonymous; the musicianship is impeccable, and the fiddle and Dobro solos take your breath away--I'd like to thank these fellows.These songs display the qualities of a great cover--they're different enough to be worth doing, and they do justice to the songs and to the style they're done in. This disc isn't for purists either of bluegrass or of AC/DC--but for the rest of us, it's good clean fun.

I first heard of this album on the Pete McMurray show on WCKG in Chicago and really thought it sounded cool. As someone who grew up not only loving all kinds of music but also having an older brother into AC/DC really made this album a gem.You don't have to be a AC/DC fan to enjoy this music, 'cause it's honestly a lot of fun to listen to. Being a fan of the AC/DC makes it pay off a little more, of course.I mean come on; who can't enjoy the concept of "Big Balls" put to Bluegrass !! My only possible beef with the CD is the fact that it's so short. 30 minutes is a tad short for [the price], but if it helps get these guys back into the studio where they can work on even more tunes, I'm cool with that.

If you're not a bluegrass fan, why would you buy this albumn? If you're not an AC/DC fan, why would you buy this albumn? You have to have an appreciation for both forms of music to really truly enjoy this band - who completely rock out!! If you buy it thinking it will be humourous, you're [going to be wrong]. This is a TRIBUTE albumn not a joke albumn. As a huge AC/DC fan and a huge bluegrass fan, I'm in pure heaven.

In reading some of the reviews, I was reminded of Thanksgiving in Cincinnati, 1999. Let me explain. My wife, my mother-in-law and my sister-in-law are all hardcore vegetarians. While they made a turkey and ham, they also made some evil concoction called a "Tofurkey" -- a tofu "turkey". Now, I eat tofu and thought it was just okay, but others who tried it complained that it didn't taste like turkey (the three aforementioned veggies included). Well, no kidding ... it's bean curd!My point is, this does not sound (not even a little bit) like AC/DC. But guess what? It's a fun collection of bluegrass music that, because they're interpretations of AC/DC songs, are hilarious! I recommend this record for the novelty value, but it is rather skimpy. But if you're going to buy it, buy it because you like Bluegrass AND AC/DC, or just like to laugh. Don't think for a second that this is some AC/DC cover band in the true sense of the word ... to do so is to confuse turkey with tofu.ps. "Tofurkey" gets 1-star ... I like the real thing!

All the "righteous indignation" about this album from enraged headbanger purists is proof (as if we needed more!) that too many fans see rock'n'roll as a secular religion, complete with the "holy faithful" and the "infidel dogs". Especially from the reviewer who was praying that the real AC/DC don't know of its existence! Reality check, time out--AC/DC's music is copyrighted like with any musicians on major labels. So the real dudes had to give their permission, or this album wouldn't exist anywhere but on a couple of Denon cassettes. AC/DC's material is almost the only hard rock that can be translated into yee-haw country--it's rollicking tons-o'-fun blues metal, while most other hard rock is based on anger and defiance. I love the phrase "sex machine" from "You Shook Me All Night Long" as expressed in the Hank Williams Senior idiom here. Whoo-ee, Daddy Hank would never have said that 'bout a gal in a song, buddy! What delicious irony! Too many people nowadays consider a parody of something they like a desecration--I say it takes a fan of the original to fully appreciate a good mock-out of it. Speaking as a lifelong fan of Grand Funk Railroad, I hope this bunch takes them on next.

Living in Australia, home of AC/DC I Had to order the CD from the states. The week or so wait was worth it. I have brought it to work for the AC/DC fans to listen to (bieng the sole bluegrass fan). So far only one person has made an unfavourable comment (Desecration! he cried, before even listening to it).I am impressed, for ages I have been tring to get a few blokes together to play a mandolin/accordian/guitar version of 'You shook me all night long' and here it is pre packaged.Listening to this CD has given me inspiration to follow up my acoustic Jimi Hendrix ideas. Well done.The music is a bit to steady, with little variety between how tunes are sung or presented but thats the point I guess. A great CD, pity its so short for the dollars and exchange rate. Sign me up for the next CD

It's not for die-hard AC/DC fans who take the band =way= too seriously... of course they are going to be offended by anyone messing with "their" band. The hicks on this record do have some chops. Some of the flatpicking and dobro work is really =rippin'=! It is certainly less maudlin than the reggae reworking of Led Zep by DredZepplin. Buy it. For less than [price] it's worth it.